NTEA installs new president, opens Canadian office

INDIANAPOLIS. Mark Woody officially took over NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry, on Thursday. Woody, president of Palfinger North America (Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada), is the 50th president of NTEA. Woody takes over from immediate past president Shawn Jacobs, president and CEO of STS Trailer & Truck Equipment (Syracuse, NY).

The official hand-off of presidential duties took place at the President’s Breakfast and Annual Meeting held in conjunction with The Work Truck Show 2014.

“I look forward to filling this role and am driven to work hard to lead the NTEA during its 50th year of serving the work truck industry,” said Woody.

Woody has served the work truck industry for 20 years. He began his industry career at Palfinger North America, where he served as director of sales and marketing from 1993-2001. He was then promoted to his current position as president.

NTEA also announced that the organization has opened a Canadian Government Relations office in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city. The office is the NTEA’s first location in Canada and will play an important role in addressing the increasing challenges presented by international marketplace dynamics.

The Ottawa and Washington, D.C. offices focus on creating a unified voice for the work truck industry while addressing the needs of the North American market.

“Around the world, governments have begun to recognize the economic benefits associated with global truck platforms, harmonized safety regulations and emissions standards for commercial vehicles.” said Steve Carey, NTEA executive director. “Having a second Government Relations office further strengthens the NTEA’s ability to influence and respond to regulations and legislation impacting the North American market.”

The Ottawa office works under the direction of Mike Kastner, NTEA managing director, who leads the NTEA’s government relations efforts in Washington, D.C.

In addition, the organization named the members of its 2014-15 Board. Executive Committee Members are: First Vice President Jeffrey Messer, president of Messer Truck Equipment (Westbrook, ME); Second Vice President Matt Wilson, president of Switch-N-Go, AmeriDeck & Bucks Divisions of Deist Industries, Inc. (Hadley, PA); Third Vice President and Treasurer Adam Keane, general manager of Allied Body Works, Inc. (Seattle, WA); and Secretary Steve Carey, executive director of NTEA.